Description: Mental health - the elephant in every Emergency Services station and dispatch center. Mental health - the taboo subject no one talks about. Well, not anymore. We're going to have a talk about why Matt had a bout of depression that nearly ended his life. We are going to talk about some of our brothers and sisters who are no longer with us because they lost their battle with their demons. What is the extent of the problem? What's being done about it? We're going to talk about the stigma, and how to break it. We're going to learn how to cope, how to be resilient. Above all, we are going to learn it's ok to not be ok, and it's ok to talk about all of this. Because this time, the life we save may be our own.
Learning Objectives:
Upon completion, the participant will be able to list reasons why an EMS provider may contemplate suicide.
Upon completion, the participant will be able to describe the stigma surrounding mental health in EMS, and how to break it.
Upon completion, the participant will be able to define Post Traumatic Stress as noted by the National Institute of Mental Health.
Upon completion, the participant will be able to list coping mechanisms to help deal with the stresses of EMS work, and of life in general.
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